February 17, 2016 // Uncategorized

St. Dominic’s expanded facilities enhance parish life

Todays Catholic

By Tim Johnson

BREMEN — St. Dominic in Bremen is still in a celebration mode with the opening of its new Good Shepherd Hall, a new building that includes a chapel, kitchen and gathering space. Daily Mass is now celebrated in the “more intimate” setting of the chapel and the first coffee and doughnuts held Feb. 7 was a big hit, said Father Bob Lengerich, pastor of St. Dominic.

The new hall was dedicated on Dec. 8 last year, but before that, the parish hosted a Forty Hours Devotion that turned into a Fifty Hours Devotion. “I was so impressed, the people loved it,” said Father Lengerich. He said great graces came from the devotion. One gentleman decided it was time to officially join the Catholic Church.

Another use for the new building is a new ministry that is in formation called the Joyful Song Sing-Along, which is a special prayer service that meets the needs of people with special needs — not just at St. Dominic Parish, but in the Bremen community as well. It is an ecumenical outreach.

Joyful Song Sing-Along is a praise-and-worship-based service, which includes music and activities. After the first session, Father Lengerich said, “These people have brought joy to St. Dominic.”

Another ecumenical aspect of the community is Bremen’s Ministerial Association. “About half of the pastors in town meet every month,” Father Lengerich noted. “And we discuss together how we can lead the town closer to God.”

During Lent, the association will gather at a different church each Sunday evening for Lenten services. “It’s really neat that the Christians in this town can pray with one another and love each other in Christ’s name,” Father Lengerich noted.

St. Dominic is a diverse multi-cultural parish consisting of an Anglo and Hispanic parishioners. Father Lengerich celebrates three Masses in English and one in Spanish on weekends.

Other active ministries at St. Dominic include youth group, Bible study, the Why Catholic? program, the Knights of Columbus, and Spanish and English choirs.

During Lent, there is a live Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, a tradition of the Hispanic community in the parish.

During the Year of Mercy, the parish is hosting a prayer workshop or mini-retreat for each of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Just recently, about 25 participants prepared Valentines for local inmates at the Marshall County Jail and for the homebound, elderly and widows of the parish.

The Good Shepherd Hall has also been used to show movies such as “The War Room.” The recent production drew not only parishioners, but welcomed the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration from nearby Mishawaka.

And every October, the parish hosts the Men’s Stag, which draws nearly 500 men to St. Dominic for a day of fun.